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Professor Szyszko on joint action in response to climate change at COP23

Professor Szyszko on joint action in response to climate change at COP23

16.11.2017

Only a joint, united action is a guarantee of the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient development pathway for the benefit of future generations and the state of environment”, said Professor Jan Szyszko, Minister of Environment, during the meeting of the high level segment of the UN Climate Conference (COP23).

The Minister of Environment emphasised that climate change is one of the most serious global challenges faced by the international community today.

“Facing this challenge requires a collective effort and commitment from all countries”, he said.

“Poland considers the Paris Agreement as one of the most important agreements of our time. “It is a tool which enables the implementation of the sustainable development objectives and, at the same time, stopping the growth of CO2 concentration in the most efficient and cheapest way”, he added.

Professor Jan Szyszko also pointed out the two aspects – absorption and reduction – which should be remembered in order to successfully implement the provisions of the Paris Agreement.

“The harmful effects of increased CO2 concentration translate into the world's most crucial problems, such as water shortages and the resulting migrations, biodiversity loss, extinction of species and deteriorating air quality. It is therefore our duty to reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere as quickly and cheaply as possible, while taking into consideration the social dimension”, he emphasised.

The Minister recalled that shared responsibility based on sovereign contributions from all states, taking into account their different circumstances, needs and potentials, as well as respect for national specificities, mutual understanding and cooperation between all stakeholders are the main objectives and values of the Paris Agreement.

“For many years, Poland has been intensively undertaking practical measures for the implementation of sustainable development and climate policy. In Katowice, the Paris Agreement has to become a living structure that pursues its goals through an implementation package”, he said.

"In Katowice, we want the Facilitative Dialogue – the Talanoa Dialogue, as we want to continue using this term, to reflect the varied views and expectations of the Parties in the best possible way and build upon the achievements of COP23”, he added.

The high-level segment of COP 23 in Bonn

The high-level segment debates, attended by Environment and Climate Ministers from nearly 200 countries around the world are the key element of all COP climate conferences. At the COP23 summit in Bonn, they will work on the implementing rules for the Paris Agreement, which will be ultimately adopted during COP24 in Katowice.